Buccal sheath



Sept. 25, 1962 H. D. KESLIVNG BUCCAL SHEATH Filed April 2l, 1959 FIGB INVENTOR. HAROLD D. KESLING jzW/%m:/L "wr ATTORNEYS United States Patent C) 3,055,111 BUCCAL SHEATH Harold D. Kesling, R.R. 2, La Porte, Ind. Filed Apr. 21, 1959, Ser. No. 807,803 9 Claims. (Cl. 32-14) This invention relates to apparatus employed in orthodontics, and more particularly to buccal sheaths, and still more particularly to the combination of a buccal sheath and arch wire for controlling torque on the anchor tooth.

The practice of Orthodontics is primarily concerned with the straightening of teeth, wherein an arch wire is secured to selected teeth of a dental arch. The opposite ends of the wire are normally retained to anchor teeth. Generally, the anchor teeth are molars near the back of the dental arch. Inasmuch as the molar or anchor teeth serve to retain the ends of the anchor wire, forces are transmitted to these teeth, some of which may be undesirable and tend to malposition the teeth.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to solve the above problem and obviate the difculties heretofore encountered, and provide a new and improved buccal sheath for retaining the ends of the arch wire.

Another object of this invention resides in the provision of a buccal sheath adapted to be-secured to an anchor tooth and for retaining an end of an arch wire which may function to control torque on the anchor tooth.

A further object of this invention is in the provision of a buccal sheath in combination with means provided on the arch wire for controlling the torque on the tooth supporting the buccal sheath.

A still further object of this invention is to provide, in combination with a buccal sheath secured to anchor teeth of a dental arch, loops in the arch wire coacting with the buccal sheath to control the torque on the anchor teeth.

Other objects, features, and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed disclosure, taken in conjunction with the accompanying sheet of drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to like parts, in which:

FIG. l is a plan View of a dental arch having an arch wire secured thereto, and illustrating use of buccal sheaths in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged front elevational View of a buccal sheath according to the invention, and illustrating how the arch wire is formed to coact with the buccal sheath;

FIG. 3 -is a front elevational view of a buccal sheath according to the invention and illustrating how the forward or mesial loop may be opened to laterally receive the arch wire;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the embodiment of FIGS. 2 and 3, and illustrating the position of the arch wire;

FIG. 5 is a sectional line 5 5 of FIG. 4; and

FIG. 6 is an end elevational view of the buccal sheath looking toward the mesial end thereof.

Referring now to the drawings, and particularly to FIG. 1, a dental arch 10 is shown including a plurality of teeth having the conventional type teeth bands 11 secured thereto in any suitable manner such as by use of cement. Each of the teeth bands 11 has suitably secured to its labial or buccal side arch wire supporting members 12 for receiving and connecting an arch wire 13 to the teeth.

As is generally conventional, the opposite ends of the arch wire 13 are preferably retained by anchor teeth 14. In this instance, the anchor teeth are molar teeth and have conventional teeth Ibands 15 suitably secured thereto and supporting buccal sheaths 16 according to the invention.

Each buccal sheath 16 includes generally a mesial-disview, taken substantially along f tally extending elongated plate 17 having a loop 18 at the mesial end `and a loop ,19 at the distal end thereof, the loops receiving the arch Wire 13.

'I'he plate 17 which extends longitudinally of the dentalv arch is concavo-convex in shape with the convex side thereof facing the buccal side of the anchor tooth. Preferably, the backing spaced mesial-distally extending wire control bars 20 and 21 are carried on the plate 17, which are also spaced buccally of the anchor tooth. In this instance, the wire control bars 20 and 21 are integral with the plate 17.

The loops 18 and 19 are defined partly by end portions of the plate .17 and partly by convexo-concave sections 22 and 23 formed integrally with the plate 1-7. The sections 22 and 23 thereby deline wire holding straps at the mesial and distal ends of the sheath. Preferably, the straps are semi-oval in shape, whereby looking at one end of the buccal sheath gives the effect of looking ata somewhat flattened tube. mesial strap y22 is longitudinally slit at 24 to define upper and lower portions 25 and 26. Either the upper or lower portion may be bent |back to provide access for laterally receiving the arch wire 13 when mounting the arch wire on the buccal sheath. Then the portion may be bent back into its original position to retain the arch wire in position. The longitudinally extending slit 24 may bey provided at any location along the strap 22, more closely to the gingival end thereof.

The arch wire 13 is provided with means coacting with the buccal sheath to control the torque on the anchor tooth in the way of a double loop 27, including upper and lower loops 28 and 29. The double loop 27 extends occlusal-gingivally between the biting surface of the teeth and the gum, and is of such a dimension to extend occlusally beyond the upper wire control bar 20 and gingivally beyond the lower wire control bar 21,

but preferably bars 20 and 21 to control the torque on the anchor tooth.` The dou-ble loop 27 is thus slidably arranged against the wire control bars 20 and 21 between the mesial and distal straps 22 and 23. The part of the arch wire 13 extending mesially from the double loop 27 is thus retained by the mesial strap 22, while a part of the wire extending distally of the double loop 27 is retained by the distal strap 23. The loops 28 and 29 may be formed in the arch wire 13 in order to selectively control the torquing of the anchor tooth.

In mounting the double loop 27 and the arch wire to the buccal sheath, the very end of the arch wire extending distally of the double loop may -tirst be inserted in the distal loop 19, and with a portion of the mesial strap 22 bent to permit insertion of the portion of the arch wire 13 mesial to the double loop 27 into the mesial loop 18. Then replacing of the bent portion of the mesial strap 22 functions to retain the portion of the arch wire 13 mesial to the double loop 27 at the mesial end of the buccal sheath. During the tenure of the straightening process, the double loop 27 Iis permitted to slide back and forth or in one direction 'between the mesial and distal loops 18 and 19 of the buccal sheath, and the loops 28 and 29 coact with the -wire control bars 20 and 21 to control the torque of the anchor tooth.

The buccal sheath may be constructed in any desirable manner, such as by providing a somewhat flattened tube, and milling the central portion away on the buccal side, and slitting the loop at the mesial end of the sheath. Alternatively, the buccal sheath may be formed from a stamped blank wherein it would be shaped as shown. In the latter instance, both the mesial and distal straps would be slit, although this would not be necessary.

It will be understood that modifications and variations Patented Sept. 25, 1962 plate is semi-oval in shape. Parallel The distal strap 23 is continuous, but the- -whereby the loops 28 and 29 may respectively engage the wire controlA may be effected without departing from the scope of the novel concepts of the present invention, but it is understood that this application is to be limited only by the scope of the appended claims.

The invention is hereby claimed as follows:

l. A buccal sheath adapted to be secured to a tooth mounted band comprising, an elongated plate extending mesial-distally of an anchor tooth, and a pair of closed loops mounted at opposite ends of said plate for receiving an arch wire, said loop at one end being cut mesialdistally to permit one portion thereof to be bent back for laterally receiving the arch wire in the loop.

2. A buccal sheath adapted to be secured to a tooth mounted band comprising, an elongated plate extending mesial-dstally of an anchor tooth, and a pair of closed loops mounted at opposite ends of said plate for receiving an arch wire, said loop at the mesial end being cut mesial-distally to permit one portion thereof to be bent back for laterally receiving the arch wire in the loop.

3. A buccal sheath adapted to be secured to a tooth mounted band comprising, an elongated plate extending mesial-distally of an anchor tooth, and a pair of closed loops mounted at opposite ends of said plate for receiving an arch wire, said loop at the mesial end being cut mesial-distally to permit one-portion thereof to be bent back for laterally receiving the arch wire in the loop, and a pair of mesial-distally extending parallel wire control bars spaced buccally from the band between said loops.

4. A buccal sheath adapted to be secured to a tooth mounted band comprising, an elongated concavo-convex plate extending mesial-distally of an anchor tooth, the convex side of said plate facing the tooth, and a convexoconcave wire retaining strap at each end of the plate for retaining the wire thereto, the opposite ends of each strap being secured to said plate, said strap at the mesial end of the plate Ibeing cut mesial-distally to permit one portion thereof to be bent back for permitting lateral reception of the wire.

. 5.-A buccal sheath adapted to be secured to a tooth mounted band comprising, an elongated concavo-convex plate extending mesial-distally of an anchor tooth, the convex side of said plate facing the tooth, and a convexoconcave Wire retaining strap mounted at each end of the plate for retaining the wire thereto, said strap at the mesial end of the plate being cut mesial-distally to permit one portion thereof to be bent back for permitting lateral reception of the wire, the upper and lower edges of the plate defining Wire control bars spaced from the band.

6. In combination with an arch wire, a buccal sheath adapted to be mounted buccally of an Vanchor tooth, said sheath comprising an elongated plate extending mesialdstally, a pair of loops at opposite ends of said plate for retention of the arch wire, a pair of spaced mesial-distally 4extending wire control bars 'between said loops, and a double loop in said wire extending occlusal-gingivally and slidably engaging at least one of said wire control bars to control torque on said tooth.

7. In combination with an arch wire, a buccal sheath adapted to be mounted buccally of an anchor tooth, an elongated concavo-convex plate extending mesial-distally, the convex side of said plate facing the tooth, a convexoconcave wire retaining strap mounted at each end of the plate for retention of the arch wire, the upper and lower edges of said plate dening wire control bars spaced buccally of said tooth, and a double loop in said wire extending occlusal-gingivally between said straps and slidably engaging at least one of said Wire control bars to control torque on said tooth.

8. The combination of claim 7, wherein the mesial strap is cut mesial-distally to permit one portion thereof to be bent 'back for laterally receiving the arch wire between the strap and plate.

9. In combination with an arch wire, a buccal sheath adapted to -be mounted bucally of an anchor tooth, said sheath comprising an elongated plate extending mesialdistally, a pair of loops at opposite ends of said plate for retention of the arch wire, a pair of spaced mesial-distally extending wire control bars between said loops, and means carried -by said wire between said loops engaging at least one of said wire control vbars to control torque on said tooth.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 597,582 Knapp Ian. 18, 1898 618,105 Knapp Jan. 24, 1899 1,764,067 Craigo June 17, 1930 2,381,128 Laskin Aug. 7, 1945 

